Going by our year-enders over the past few days, almost everything remotely associated with Bollywood saw a clinical dip. Well, not really. The industry did see a lot of encouraging positives. For instance, there were some actors who were able to make their presence felt in their very first film itself. They not only compelled us to take notice but also expect a lot from them in the near future. Whether they’ll be able to deliver on those promises is a matter of time. As for now, HitList points out the few first-timers who impressed...

Dhanush

Debut film: Raanjhanaa
X-factor: Compared to the number of actresses from the South who annually switch to Bollywood, South Indians actors rarely move out of their comfortable terrain. Dhanush decided to be one of the few. Perhaps motivated by the unprecedented overkill of Kolaveri Di, he finally made his Hindi film entry in a movie set in Varanasi of all the places. In the end, his self-effacing character simply bowled us over with his inhibited charm.